Top five for change

Here are a handful of the priority projects at the Sierra Health Foundation:

Sacramento Regional Health Care Partnership: Launched in October 2011, in league with The California Endowment and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, this program seeks a comprehensive regional approach to the rollout of the Affordable Care Act in the region. The goal is to improve flaws in the existing primary-care safety net and bolster the preparedness of community clinics.

Healthy Sacramento Coalition: Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this project is a coalition of 62 local health organizations working to reduce chronic disease, promote healthy lifestyles and reduce health disparities in Sacramento County. Specifically, the goals are to reduce tobacco use, obesity and heart disease indicators by 5 percent each.

Respite Partnership Collaborative: In partnership with Sacramento County, the foundation is administering an $8.3 million grant from the Mental Health Services Administration Innovation Fund to develop a respite program for patients with mental-health issues.

Positive Youth Justice Initiative: The goal of this integrative program is to improve health, academic and social outcomes for local teenagers involved in the child welfare, foster-care or juvenile-justice systems.

Responsive Grants Program: In 2013, a total of $500,000 will be made available to the 26-county greater-Sacramento region in $15,000 increments to help respond to local health needs.